Now the dust has settled on the Trans-Tasman battle, and the chest beating, posturing, claims and counterclaims, accusations of cheating by both sides and the odd offensive posts are behind us.
To all but the most biased Australian supporter it must appear that the All Blacks have settled down to their usual domination.
The Wallabies did get closer on the scoreboard in the last match, but I attach no importance to that.
The Dunedin dead rubber could blow out to a 50-point margin, or heaven forbid (I have my All Black hat on as I write) the Wallabies could sneak it. It’s irrelevant, because over a longer period the All Blacks will statistically win a much larger proportion than they lose, and that applies to all other opponents as well.
Why? I won’t go into the old jingoistic argument of how we are only a small country but we are full of some kind of superhuman rugby gods, or subscribe to the comments from across the Tasman about Union being the fourth or fifth sport in Australia, or that they don’t care.
In small time periods in the not too distant past Australia produced wonderful teams that dominated us and caused us considerable pain, and our cousins across the ditch did care then, in their droves.
So coming back to my title why is New Zealand so dominant? Let’s discount the obvious: good depth, skills and coaching that is a given with New Zealand (well OK, they had the odd dodgy coach, but not that many).
Let’s also discount the pull of the jersey that amazingly, in this mercenary world of the professional era, still convinces most top Kiwi players to forgo overseas riches and stick with the All Blacks.
No, their trump card and the one that nobody else has managed to emulate, is the top down control the NZRFU voluntarily (or no so voluntarily) exercises over the game. The Kiwis are as parochial as anybody else, and the local rivalries between regions are legendary, heated and sometimes even spiteful.
However mention the All Blacks and they fall into line> Whether it’s voluntarily or kicking and screaming, everyone falls into line. Even when they disagree with selections, style and moan incessantly about it.
What does this control achieve? It allows them to monitor and control their playing stock almost from school to All Black level, obviously more loosely at the lower levels and more tightly higher up.
What are the benefits of this?
Talent is identified early and is nurtured and developed. Very little top talent is lost. In spite of popular conception, other sports such as football and cricket do compete with union at an early age, and although I stand to be corrected, they command larger numbers.
By contracting their top echelon (ITM Cup, Super Rugby and All Blacks) player stock directly, they have a large say in how and in what position they play, and whether they have rest periods or the much talked about sabbaticals.
It is not a compulsory requirement, and sometimes needs override this, but on the whole they are in sync with ITM, Super and National managers. In reality the NZRFU are the players’ employer.
And here comes the master stroke. As I sit here in comfort watching an ITM match, I might as well be watching a slightly less skilful Super Rugby or All Black team. The same applies to Super matches.
By having this homogenous and evolving style, whether the match is poor, good or outstanding, the basics such as when to pass, when to run, when to kick and when to go to ground are much more fluid that I have seen from the Wallabies and most other teams all year.
It’s not rocket science, they are all singing off the same music sheet at all levels, so all these things become instinctive, not something you have to think about. They just recognise what is in front of them and instinctively execute it because they have done it a hundred times before.
In contrast I have watched Will Genia (admittedly at his worst moments) degenerate into crouching over the ball, looking left, looking right, putting his hands on it, taking them off, picking it up, taking a step and finally passing it.
I don’t for a minute assume that he doesn’t know his job, more that he is not sure, comfortable and confident about what is happening around him. Aaron Smith almost doesn’t have to look, he knows what is happening, and it is no different from countless other times in different teams.
On a side issue, if or when the Wallabies are out of contention for the Rugby Championship, the ARU should send Genia on a sabbatical, he is on his knees. Your most valuable resource is in danger of burning out, and what a waste that would be.
Let me finally re-enforce my argument with a hypothetical scenario. If you were going to hold a three team tournament between the composite top two teams from each Super conference this year (Brumbies/Reds, Bulls/Cheetahs and Chiefs/Crusaders), would you argue with me if I stated that the Chiefs/Crusaders would hit the ground running straight away while the other two would take considerably longer to gel, looking at their wildly contrasting styles of their component teams?
That is why whatever injuries the All Blacks suffer, the replacements seem to slot in seamlessly. Romano/Retallick, Messam/Luatua, Carter/Cruden/Barrett/Taylor are all examples.
The plan and style is the constant, the players the variable. You don’t alter the plan and style to accommodate the player, unlike almost every other representative side.
It’s not rocket science, but completely improbable that the Northern Hemisphere juggernauts could implement something similar with the strangle hold clubs have on their playing stock.
The same sadly applies to South Africa, with the gross political interference in their game, although it is more probable.
Australia is almost there, all they need is that elusive third talent feeder tier, even if they have to go cup in hand to the NZRFU with a request for a couple of teams in the ITM comp to kick start it.
More importantly they need some far-seeing and visionary officials that would discard their parochial Queensland and NSW hats and start laying the foundations loosely on how their franchises play, developing a common “Australian” style that suits you.
You don’t have to re-invent the wheel, we have seen that style in your successful past teams, and very enjoyable (or painful depending on your allegiance) it was to watch. That is the foundation style to evolve from. Rod Macqueen wouldn’t be a bad start as a uniting appointment.
I hope it happens, because believe it or not an Australasia rugby scene without a competitive Wallabies team would be like fish and chips without the chips (or fish if you prefer).
And putting aside all the gloating and nationalistic fervour, every All Black supporter with half a brain would recognise that.
the 3rd hokage
Roar Rookie
a typical saffa, will make anything up to discredit NZ rugby. not the first time either aye spoony???
Rick Karaitiaba
Guest
Well said Harry, Australia has some great current players, but does not have the depth that NZ has, Rugby is second nature to all NZ kids from primary school to Secondary School, and then you sort the wheat from the chaff, as Barry John (British Lions Tour 1971) said when the All Blacks were missing a key member of the team (injury) they will just go down to the local Park and drag one from there,.Having played Rugby for many years in NZ there is only a pencil line between an All Black and a top grade player, the depth is enormous, I heard mentioned two teams from Australia to be included in the ITM Competition which would be a huge boost for Australian Rugby, and if successful add another two later on.. With the inter action of Rugby and League players in Australia, they would be a real threat re (Folau) and even if I may say so Quade Cooper, the biggest ty for NZ kids is the Black Jersey, the biggest threat to NZ is the amount of Kiwi's flooding to Oz with their families,just look at the League.A very interesting article Harry. .
On or
Guest
They'll win em all and take out second division!!! With that talent they have they could knock off the big boys.
On or
Guest
I don't think the Aussies desrve to be in the ITM cup. But in saying that, maybe the NZRU want to up the exposure of the ITM cup and get more of an Australian audience involved to get the viewing numbers up, not sure if the NZRU are out to make money on the ITM cup so it's hard to say.. Just a thought.
richard
Guest
Tremain,Thimbelby,MacRae.The Bay's second shield era 1966-9,its been a long time between drinks. Dad was rapt,he grew up in the Shield era, in Taradale,Napier.
richard
Guest
biltong,you are quite right.I like the way the boks play (their pressure game).And I expect them to be ultra competitive this year. They will take a test off the ABs this year,irrespective of how they go in the rest of the Championship.I just have this feeling their is a quiet resolve in this bok team.
winston
Roar Rookie
"All that came to a crashing halt when the All Blacks were dumped out of the 2007 World Cup which may, or may not, have triggered the global recession." Hilarious
winston
Roar Rookie
Great article. This is where the "aura" really works for the ABs and really the only place it needs to.
Boomeranga
Roar Rookie
NZ and Australia should just go our separate ways. Our PMs call each other in twenty years to see if anything's changed.
atlas
Guest
measured by days or defences? They play Counties Manukau on Saturday, so 6 days is a possibility and win that, on the line for every home game: v Northland 15 September v North Harbour on 29 September v Wellington 10 October.
Garth
Guest
My first point was that the NRL and other Australian competitions that have admitted NZ teams are CLUB competitions that have admitted a CLUB. All that happened with the Warriors was that a new CLUB formed and hired players for a CLUB competition. Same for the Breakers and the Phoenix. There were no amalgamations of Auckland or Wellington sides in any of those cases. The Lion Red Cup was a national CLUB competition as are the domestic NZ basketball & football leagues. My second point was that the ITM & Heartland competitions ARE NOT CLUB competitions. They are regional representative teams, whose players are drawn from our domestic club competitions, not in addition to them. Prior to professional rugby there was no difference between them and the Australian state sides like the Warratahs & Reds. From 1996 onwards, they became a intermediary level. My third point is that no Sydney or Brisbane CLUB, existing or newly formed, would do well at ITM level, simply because the Aussies would continue to see them as a CLUB whose players play for that club only. Our players represent their clubs AND, if good enough, their provinces. To be viable in the ITM, the Australian clubs would have to agree to release their best players to a regional side. ANd if they did that, they could easily run their own competition.
Johnno
Guest
nos no problem. NZ rugby is getting stronger, Australia is now ranked 4, only 1 ahead of France, but reality is everyone in the loop is worried about OZ rugby. France maybe 5 but there future is far more sound. 2 top divsions lots of money. and all this talk about foreigners ruining french rugby is nonsense. They bring in the money. Maybe restrcit foriegn imports more to say 5 per team, which still allows plenty. But plenty of frnech players get a chance to develop in the 2nd division anyway, and now France has set up academies in Fiji, and will get more and more pacific islanders playing for them. Plus the polynesians in walls and Futuna and French Polynesia via Tahitii, and also New caledonia, so talent will come through there, plus a few Moroccans will get a go too, as moroccan rugby is doing well. Heck big Benazai was from there in the 90's. The IRB have invested alot in Italy and Georgia, and are getitng results there. Russia is developing now too. Plus Spain and Portugal, and Argentina,chile,Uruguay, Brazil, USA/Canada. OZ rugby big problems I think, I don't know where to start. One good thing about some of these countries not haveing big long rugby cultures, is there not set in there ways, hamstrung by warring factions and traditions, unlike Australia or Wales which are both beset with problems. Canada has been the real improvers, and a big thing with that has been the building of a rugby high performance centre, where all national teams can train full time.
Benny
Guest
You could probably have said the same thing about NZ RL before the warriors. I'm not sure on the details but before the Warriors, all we had was the Lion Red cup, which at least was a national comp but Auckland was split into a handful of clubs that were way to small to play NRL. The Warriors were a new creation. No reason why the Aussies couldn't do something similar to add a team into the ITM cup. They could potentially add in a newly formed Sydney and/or Brisbane team. I'm not sure what the Aussies would think though, it could potentially devalue the local competitions.
Jerry
Guest
It's not a monopoly though. There's nothing stopping anyone setting up an alternative rugby competition.
Rassie
Roar Rookie
I will look again but you can think of suddenly making everything with one firm, a monopoly so to speak and put salary caps and player movement restrictions on it I assure you they took a turn or two in the high court. Think your tax police would had a say and the commerce
Garth
Guest
Georgia has been at the last three RWC's and has shown improvement in every tournament. Rugby is now second only to football. With crowds of up to 65,000 show up for European Nations Cup games, it's a fast growing sport.
woodart
Guest
no no no , the ITM has been buggered around enough now to fit ever expanding super rugby comp, with ever more teams from aus and sth africa. dont bugger it up completely by opening the ITM up to overseas teams. leave well alone!!!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Yes, i watched clermont vs toulouse and grenoble v toulon. No injuries that i saw. Vermaak and Steenkamp played almost the whole game with Toulouse and they did well i felt considering Toulouse had sent their B team (again a french thing, we often travel not to win when we play against big teams like Clermont who havent lost a game on home soil for 4 years). Habana only played the last 10min this morning so didnt have much to do. Botha and Rossouw had a strong game. You can really see they are enjoying themselves there as they can have a reak crack hahaha! Botha will always be the same btw, i have to say i love the guy and his passion. I think Morne also played a bit with Stade francais. i didnt watch the game but read he added some "depth to the backline" when he came in. For top 14 standards, he is a very playful 10 actually! ;) hoep they come back ok and not too tired tbh as i would really like them to have a reak crack at the wallabies next week.
Two Eyed Cyclop
Roar Guru
Managed to get another id BB, I will stick with this one, describes me perfectly. The key word in my article was to "give Australia a kick start", its the quick fix, I would hope than within a few years they would start their own comp.
Misha's Cuz
Guest
Spot on this article. And it's exactly why Wallaby fans need to get comfortable with always being 2nd best. As rugby grows, 2nd best will be hugely sought after. Africa, the US, Eastern Europe, will all become large breeding grounds of emerging players. If one or two of them with similar demographics to NZ choose rugby as their weapon of choice - look out. I'm thinking Russia, Romania & some of the Balcan & Baltic states as examples. Big, strong humans and struggle to excel in the more traditional soviet era Olympic sports, the "new" world game offers a huge opportunity to young men (and maybe women) as a new way into big money. Like this article infers, with good management and the right social spirit any one of these wee rugby brothers can steal the future of rugby. In Aus, we have to accept that our game is low on the list of priorities and do the best we have. Lets hope the new ARU order is up for the challenge!